Are you breathing easy in your office?

Thursday

Jun 28, 2007 at 11:36 AM

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 28, 2007--Smoke-free workplace laws in municipalities around Pennsylvania have resulted in an 87 percent drop in cancer-causing air pollution in bars, restaurants and other venues that comply with the new laws, according to an air quality study released today.

At businesses that continued to allow smoking, in violation of the new laws, secondhand smoke-related air pollution increased by 8 percent, the study found.

Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health, Dr. Calvin Johnson, was on hand for today’s press conference to reinforce his support for clean indoor air in public spaces statewide by prohibiting smoking. “Exposure to secondhand smoke is a serious public health concern that can be prevented by making public places smoke-free,“ Dr. Johnson said. “Everyone has a right to breathe clean air.“

The study results were released this morning at a Philadelphia press conference, hosted by the Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco (PACT). PACT, along with the American Lung Association of Pennsylvania, commissioned the study in 2006 to measure the air quality of Pennsylvania’s hospitality industry.

The scientific study was conducted by James Repace, MSc, of Repace Associates, Inc., a secondhand smoke consulting firm based in Bowie, Md.

The study evaluated air quality in restaurants, bars and a bowling alley in Philadelphia and Scranton between September 2006 and February 2007. Both municipalities passed clean indoor air laws in January 2007.

The studies of the Philadelphia and Scranton venues indicated an 87 percent drop in RSP after their clean indoor air laws took effect. The study revealed that, before the ordinances, the average prevalence of active smoking (burning cigarettes) was just 4 percent of observed patrons in these establishments. Even though such a small fraction of the patrons were smoking, all of the venues were heavily polluted.

“This shows how pervasive cigarette smoke can be, as just a handful of burning cigarettes can make it seem like everyone in the entire establishment is smoking,“ PACT Executive Director, Joy Blankley Meyer said. “People shouldn’t have to choose between their job and their health. By enacting smoke-free workplace laws, our legislature can guarantee they are not exposed to secondhand smoke on the job.“